Blank

Tag Archives | LeMans

Sure, they did it in 3 Fast 3 Furious, but no one actually puts a new engine into old muscle; do they?

Well apparently they do, because the ’72 Pontiac LeMans that you see here is powered by none other than a 1991 Toyota Supra 7M-GTE 3.0 Litre 24V Turbo motor.

Apparently the car was basically a total loss when it was purchased at auction, so it’s not like they chopped up some pristine iron to make this creation, but I’m still not sure if I can wrap my head around how they decided that this was their best bet for power.

I guess if the go pedal works though, it doesn’t exactly matter what it’s connected to.

Though the US is still having trouble wrapping its head around the power and potential of diesel, Audi seems well aware of what it can do, and has developed the R8 V12 TDI LeMans concept car to help them strut their stuff.

Featuring “the first 12-cylinder diesel engine in a high-performance roadgoing sports car”, it generates 500 hp and 737 lb-ft of torque, propelling the car from zero to 62 mph in just 4.2 seconds, with a top speed of well over 186 mph.

Peak torque?

It’s reached at just 1,750 rpm, meaning “effortless acceleration” that is without rival.

Thus, the question becomes: Would you switch gas pumps for a car like this?

So you’re living in Germany, you’ve been given a slightly beat up 1972 Pontiac LeMans as part of a video game promotion, and you have access to a turbo’d Mark III Supra engine. What do you do? You combine the two of course.

Ralf Becker is the man behind this mash-up monster, and though it’s in rough project form right now, it’s not hard to imagine the potential. Redline burnouts and blow-off valves anyone?